Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-11-10
Thursday, November 10. 1887.
REGARDING LOCAL LEGISLATION.

REGARDING LOCAL LkGlsLAIloN'
Since our city government was or
gauized and became working body,
IL has adhered religiously to Its duty as
understood by its members, and has
with all the haste proper iu such i'm
portant matters, deliberated upon, pre-.
pared, and promulgated few impor-
tant laws for the government, protec.
ton and welfare of our citizens. But
while 1t has been thus engaged work.
ing for the public good and doing only
what to IL seemed best rs a public
body IL has not escaped criticism
This criticism has not been specific
but general, and is couched in the one
objection tina; the council has been go
ing too fast. In other words, that a
community that has existed so long
without local restrictions should not be
bound at once with too many ties. To
arrive at the justness of this charge let
us examine the work of the council
and see what they have done.
They have passed license ordi.
nance sxactipg from the various occu-
patton, and professions meagre stip.
end for the support of the municipal
government. This is customary in all
incorporated cities and should meet
with no opposition here, more espec-
ially y rs the assessment on each and all
has been made unusually light in view
OF the depressed condition Of business.
They have passed sn ordinance de.
fining and furnishing nuisances; for
this there has been most urgent need,
and there is no one Of the many acts
defined a. nuisances in the ordinance,
that would not be loudly complained
of by the most strenuous objector 10
the work of the council, If ii occurred
under his nose.
They have passed an ordinance re-
strsing domestic animals from running
at large and trespassing and damaging
the property of others. the non.exis.
tence Of which in times past has been
the cause OF more unrestrained profan-
ity and bad feeling among neighbors
than can be chronicled.
They have passed an ordinance lim-
iting the canine population TO the
means and affection Of ts owners,
which must as soon as il goes into OPP
Grafton reduce the number of dogs
in town one half, AID do away entirely
with the surplus pack that nobody
owns, and that has been u curse and
disgrace to the town.
They have passed an ordinance for
the preservation of good order and
public morals, and meted out the pun
ishment for each offense, thus making
it possible for strangers who are used
IN aud enjoy good order and an inn
proved state OF public morals to walk
our streets without being SHOCKED and
dsgusted with the low moral toni Of
our CITY,
Lastly they have pas. .ed an ordi-
nance creating board of health and
clothing their creation with power to
abste aud do away with all conditions
that are liable To operate against the
health aud safety Of the public.
Thus far have they gone and here
they are liable 10 stop for while and
rest. feelny that they have done all
that is necessary for the health, COM
fort, peace and good order Of the com.
munity that chose them TO make it.
laws. Now is thu charge true that
they have iegisla.ed too mu;h and too
fast? Could they have done less and
have done their duty? We believe
every fair minded citizen will say no.
While some individuals may have
what they deem cause for complaint
at the workings Of the laws we do not
believe the people a. large have any,
On general principles II may be
broadly stated that there are few laws
or ordinances that do not work hard.
ship to some one, aud In framing
some of the ordinances that have thus
far been promulgated, our city council
bave doubtless felt that the require.
ments mnst in individual or class
cases be deemed onerous and un fair,
but in legislstIng for the people, the
individual IL and must be lost sight VI
aud only the protection and benefit
OF the masses considered. Take for
example the Cow ordinance" referred
TO elsewhere; |. Is doubtless true that
the present enforcement OF the ordi.
nance will result In reducing seversI
families 10 absolute want, yet there Is
not among al the ordinances passed
thu. far, o ne for which there was last
summer such urgent demand ~ this
aud IL this was the season Of growing
trees aud shrubbsry, there would not
be Que signer 10 the petition wher'
there Is now twenty. In fact there i
no single QUE Of all the ordinances
passed that has not been pray ed 10
A